Sometimes, a single introduction can change everything.
When John Shewell, CEO of Merlin, visited Krakow, a simple coffee with Paul, CEO of OMGKRK, led to an introduction to angel investor Vladyslav Muzhylivskyi.
John is building Merlin — a platform that automates sales intelligence, helping companies gather deep insights about prospects and close deals faster. The idea was born from his experience scaling Wefox to a $4.5B valuation.
Vlad, an active angel investor with 18 startups in his portfolio, is also the founder of Itentio, a recruitment agency. He describes his investment approach as offering “smart money” — not just capital, but also strategic guidance, operational support, and high-value introductions that accelerate startup growth.
This introduction turned out to be the perfect match — fast and effective.
🚀 A Lightning-Fast Deal
In an industry where six-month negotiations are considered quick, John and Vlad closed the deal in just 10 days.
The speed was impressive — but even more remarkable was the alignment and mutual understanding that made it possible.
How It All Began: Serendipity and Ecosystem Connections
John recalls:
“It was total serendipity. That’s the power of a strong startup ecosystem and real networks. I was catching up with a mutual connection, and they said, ‘Since you’re in Krakow, you should meet Paul. He runs OMGKRK — great guy, knows the ecosystem.’ I said, ‘Sure, I’m happy to meet people.’ That’s how it happened — Paul connected me with Vlad.
Let’s dive deeper — the story from the very first words
John, were you specifically looking for investment in Krakow?
“Not directly. We were in the middle of a fundraising round, and as a startup, you’re always looking — that’s just part of the game. But we were very selective about the kind of investors we wanted. We were looking for ‘smart money.’
Capital is one thing. It’s not that raising money is easy, but finding investors with real business acumen, strong networks, and deep understanding of your industry is much harder — and far more valuable.
To grow, startups need people at the table who bring more than cash. If investors don’t understand the industry or can’t provide support beyond the money, it can be tough. Many startups fail because they don’t get smart money.
So yes, we turned away a lot of investors who didn’t fit our criteria. Founders sometimes forget — it’s a two-way street. You shouldn’t just pitch to everyone. You want a strong, strategic cap table.”
Vlad, what made you decide to invest in Merlin?
“I was looking to add a sales tech startup to my portfolio. John’s product has strong potential across a wide market. I liked the team, the founder, and their approach to solving a real problem.
Plus, some of my other startups could become Merlin users, creating synergies. For me, this wasn’t just an investment — it was a strategic move. My goal is to back complementary solutions that help founders within my portfolio collaborate and grow faster. I believe Merlin can scale and make a real impact.”
John, why did you choose Vlad as an investor?
“We sat down for coffee and had a great conversation. One of the most important things I look for in an investor — beyond experience and acumen — is: Can I have a real, engaging conversation with this person?
At Wefox, one of the lessons I learned from the founders was: always ask yourself if this is someone you’d want to have a coffee with.
After that first meeting, I knew I’d always want to have coffee with Vlad, whether or not he invested. You want people at the table who are interesting, who challenge you, and who help you grow — as a person and as a business. Vlad brought that.”
The power of the ecosystem
This story is a testament to how a single introduction in the right ecosystem can unlock opportunity, alignment, and rapid progress.
It’s also a reminder that in startup ecosystems like Krakow—and communities like OMGKRK — connections are more than networking. They’re catalysts.
Coming next: advice for founders & startups
👉 In our next post, John and Vlad will share insights and practical tips — covering how founders can identify the right investors, raise smart money, and build genuine relationships that drive lasting success.
Stay tuned!
